Pursuing a Personal Injury Case When the Victim is a Child

As a parent, you do everything that you can to keep your child out of harm’s way. You make sure he or she is safely strapped in the appropriate type of car seat. You wouldn’t consider letting them ride their bike down the street without wearing a US CPSC–approved bicycle helmet. You spend all summer transporting your kids to and from swim lessons so they would be safe around pools and other bodies of water. You watch what they eat, where they go, who they are with.

But the fact of the matter is you can’t be everywhere; you can’t protect them all the time; and you can’t stop other people from causing accidents from negligent behavior.

If the unthinkable does happen and your child becomes injured in an accident, you need the help of an experienced Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer, because you can’t afford to leave your child’s wellbeing in the hands of an amateur.

Child Accident Damages

If your child is injured in an accident, the whole family will be impacted, and you all deserve just and fair compensation. You will want to make sure that you, as parents, are compensated for the economic losses you incur as a result of taking care of your child’s medical bills and other financial costs resulting from the accident.

Your child may be in need of prolonged rehabilitation services. If the injuries are catastrophic — involving brain, burn, spinal cord damage, or some other extremely serious injury — your child may need long-term care. There could be psychological damage from the accident that needs to be addressed, as well as his or her pain and suffering.

Asserting Your Family’s Rights

The facts of each case will determine who can file a personal injury lawsuit, how the suit will be filed, and when it must be filed.

As a general rule, under Colorado law, accident victims under the age of 18 cannot settle a personal injury case without approval of the probate court. In addition, there may be a longer window to file a personal injury lawsuit for a child, depending on the circumstances of the case.

As the parent of the minor victim, you have a more limited time to pursue a claim for your own damages, and if you miss the statute of limitations to file a claim, you will be barred from seeking compensation in the future.

How a Colorado Springs Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

It is always best to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer anytime you are seeking damages following an accident, but it is extremely important to do so when a child has been injured.

The attorneys at Levine Law will be able to answer any questions you have and can advise you on how to proceed with your claim. For a free initial consultation, call 719-471-3000 or visit us online.